Multi-Port Distributed Antenna

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for receiving signals via a multi-port distributed antenna are disclosed and may include selectively enabling one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) coupled to the antenna. The selective enabling may be based on a desired gain level applied to a signal received from the antenna. The LNAs may be coupled to ports on the antenna based on an input impedance of the LNAs and an impedance of the ports. Each of the LNAs may be configured for optimum linearity in different gain ranges, which may be proportional to the input impedance of the LNAs. The antenna may be integrated on a chip with the LNAs, or may be located external to the chip. The antenna may include a microstrip antenna. The LNAs may include variable gain and may be enabled utilizing a processor. Linearity on demand may be enabled via the selective enabling of the LNAs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application makes reference to:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/367,892 filed on Feb. 9, 2009;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 19883US01)filed on even date herewith;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 19884US01)filed on even date herewith; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 19886US01)filed on even date herewith;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 19887US01)filed on even date herewith;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 19888US01)filed on even date herewith; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 19889US01)filed on even date herewith.

Each of the above stated applications is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communication.More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to amethod and system for receiving signals via a multi-port distributedantenna.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile communications have changed the way people communicate and mobilephones have been transformed from a luxury item to an essential part ofevery day life. The use of mobile phones is today dictated by socialsituations, rather than hampered by location or technology. While voiceconnections fulfill the basic need to communicate, and mobile voiceconnections continue to filter even further into the fabric of every daylife, the mobile Internet is the next step in the mobile communicationrevolution. The mobile Internet is poised to become a common source ofeveryday information, and easy, versatile mobile access to this datawill be taken for granted.

As the number of electronic devices enabled for wireline and/or mobilecommunications continues to increase, significant efforts exist withregard to making such devices more power efficient. For example, a largepercentage of communications devices are mobile wireless devices andthus often operate on battery power. Additionally, transmit and/orreceive circuitry within such mobile wireless devices often account fora significant portion of the power consumed within these devices.Moreover, in some conventional communication systems, transmittersand/or receivers are often power inefficient in comparison to otherblocks of the portable communication devices. Accordingly, thesetransmitters and/or receivers have a significant impact on battery lifefor these mobile wireless devices.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth inthe remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and/or method for receiving signals via a multi-portdistributed antenna, substantially as shown in and/or described inconnection with at least one of the figures, as set forth morecompletely in the claims.

Various advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention,as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be morefully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless system, which may beutilized in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary multi-portdistributed antenna on a chip, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a plan view of an exemplarymulti-port distributed antenna on a chip, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating a plan view of an exemplarymulti-port distributed antenna receiver in low gain mode, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3C is a block diagram illustrating a plan view of an exemplarymulti-port distributed antenna receiver in high gain mode, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for gain controlwith a multiport distributed antenna, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain aspects of the invention may be found in a method and system forreceiving signals via a multi-port distributed antenna. Exemplaryaspects of the invention may comprise selectively enabling one or morelow noise amplifiers coupled to a multi-port distributed antenna. Theselective enabling of the one or more low noise amplifiers coupled to amulti-port distributed antenna may occur based on a desired gain levelapplied to a signal received from the multi-port distributed antenna.The low noise amplifiers may be coupled to one or more ports on themulti-port distributed antenna based on an input impedance of the lownoise amplifiers and a characteristic impedance of the ports on themulti-port distributed antenna. Each of the one or more low noiseamplifiers may be configured to provide optimum linearity in differentgain ranges, which may be proportional to the input impedance of the lownoise amplifiers. The multi-port distributed antenna may be integratedon a chip with the one or more low noise amplifiers, or may be locatedexternal to the chip. The multi-port distributed antenna may comprise amicrostrip antenna. RF signals may be received via the one or moreselectively enabled low noise amplifiers and the multi-port distributedantenna. The low noise amplifiers may comprise variable gain low noiseamplifiers, whose variable gain and/or operation may be controlled by aprocessor. Linearity on demand may be enabled via the selective enablingof the one or more low noise amplifiers.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless system, which may beutilized in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 1, the wireless device 150 may comprise an antenna 151, atransceiver 152, a baseband processor 154, a processor 156, a systemmemory 158, a logic block 160, a chip 162, a distributed antenna 164,and an external headset port 166. The wireless device 150 may alsocomprise an analog microphone 168, integrated hands-free (IHF) stereospeakers 170, a hearing aid compatible (HAC) coil 174, a dual digitalmicrophone 176, a vibration transducer 178, a keypad and/or touchscreen180, and a display 182. The wireless device 150 may comprise a wirelesscommunication device such as a cellphone or a smartphone.

The transceiver 152 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or codethat may be enabled to modulate and upconvert baseband signals to RFsignals for transmission by one or more antennas, which may berepresented generically by the antenna 151. The transceiver 152 may alsobe enabled to downconvert and demodulate received RF signals to basebandsignals. The RF signals may be received by one or more antennas, whichmay be represented generically by the antenna 151, or the distributedantenna 164. Different wireless systems may use different antennas fortransmission and reception. The transceiver 152 may be enabled toexecute other functions, for example, filtering the baseband and/or RFsignals, and/or amplifying the baseband and/or RF signals. Although asingle transceiver 152 is shown, the invention is not so limited,Accordingly, the transceiver 152 may be implemented as a separatetransmitter and a separate receiver. In addition, there may be aplurality of transceivers, transmitters and/or receivers. In thisregard, the plurality of transceivers, transmitters and/or receivers mayenable the wireless device 150 to handle a plurality of wirelessprotocols and/or standards including cellular, WLAN and PAN. Wirelesstechnologies handled by the wireless device 150 may comprise GSM, CDMA,CDMA2000, WCDMA, GMS, GPRS, EDGE, WIMAX, WLAN, 3GPP, UMTS, BLUETOOTH,and ZIGBEE, for example.

The baseband processor 154 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,and/or code that may be enabled to process baseband signals fortransmission via the transceiver 152 and/or the baseband signalsreceived from the transceiver 152. The processor 156 may be any suitableprocessor or controller such as a CPU, DSP, ARM, or any type ofintegrated circuit processor. The processor 156 may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry, and/or code that may be enabled to control theoperations of the transceiver 152 and/or the baseband processor 154. Forexample, the processor 156 may be utilized to update and/or modifyprogrammable parameters and/or values in a plurality of components,devices, and/or processing elements in the transceiver 152 and/or thebaseband processor 154. At least a portion of the programmableparameters may be stored in the system memory 158.

Control and/or data information, which may comprise the programmableparameters, may be transferred from other portions of the wirelessdevice 150, not shown in FIG. 1, to the processor 156. Similarly, theprocessor 156 may be enabled to transfer control and/or datainformation, which may include the programmable parameters, to otherportions of the wireless device 150, not shown in FIG. 1, which may bepart of the wireless device 150.

The processor 156 may utilize the received control and/or datainformation, which may comprise the programmable parameters, todetermine an operating mode of the transceiver 152. For example, theprocessor 156 may be utilized to select a specific frequency for a localoscillator, a specific gain for a variable gain amplifier, configure thelocal oscillator and/or configure the variable gain amplifier foroperation in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.Moreover, the specific frequency selected and/or parameters needed tocalculate the specific frequency, and/or the specific gain value and/orthe parameters, which may be utilized to calculate the specific gain,may be stored in the system memory 158 via the processor 156, forexample. The information stored in system memory 158 may be transferredto the transceiver 152 from the system memory 158 via the processor 156.

The system memory 158 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/orcode that may be enabled to store a plurality of control and/or datainformation, including parameters needed to calculate frequencies and/orgain, and/or the frequency value and/or gain value. The system memory158 may store at least a portion of the programmable parameters that maybe manipulated by the processor 156.

The logic block 160 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or codethat may enable controlling of various functionalities of the wirelessdevice 150. For example, the logic block 160 may comprise one or morestate machines that may generate signals to control the transceiver 152and/or the baseband processor 154. The logic block 160 may also compriseregisters that may hold data for controlling, for example, thetransceiver 152 and/or the baseband processor 154. The logic block 160may also generate and/or store status information that may be read by,for example, the processor 156. Amplifier gains and/or filteringcharacteristics, for example, may be controlled by the logic block 160.

The BT radio/processor 163 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,and/or code that may enable transmission and reception of Bluetoothsignals. The BT radio/processor 163 may enable processing and/orhandling of BT baseband signals. In this regard, the BT radio/processor163 may process or handle BT signals received and/or BT signalstransmitted via a wireless communication medium. The BT radio/processor163 may also provide control and/or feedback information to/from thebaseband processor 154 and/or the processor 156, based on informationfrom the processed BT signals. The BT radio/processor 163 maycommunicate information and/or data from the processed BT signals to theprocessor 156 and/or to the system memory 158. Moreover, the BTradio/processor 163 may receive information from the processor 156and/or the system memory 158, which may be processed and transmitted viathe wireless communication medium a Bluetooth headset, for example

The CODEC 172 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic, and/or code thatmay process audio signals received from and/or communicated toinput/output devices. The input devices may be within or communicativelycoupled to the wireless device 150, and may comprise the analogmicrophone 168, the stereo speakers 170, the hearing aid compatible(HAC) coil 174, the dual digital microphone 176, and the vibrationtransducer 178, for example. The CODEC 172 may be operable to up-convertand/or down-convert signal frequencies to desired frequencies forprocessing and/or transmission via an output device. The CODEC 172 mayenable utilizing a plurality of digital audio inputs, such as 16 or18-bit inputs, for example. The CODEC 172 may also enable utilizing aplurality of data sampling rate inputs. For example, the CODEC 172 mayaccept digital audio signals at sampling rates such as 8 kHz, 11.025kHz, 12 kHz, 16 kHz, 22.05 kHz, 24 kHz, 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, and/or 48 kHz.The CODEC 172 may also support mixing of a plurality of audio sources.For example, the CODEC 172 may support audio sources such as generalaudio, polyphonic ringer, I²S FM audio, vibration driving signals, andvoice. In this regard, the general audio and polyphonic ringer sourcesmay support the plurality of sampling rates that the audio CODEC 172 isenabled to accept, while the voice source may support a portion of theplurality of sampling rates, such as 8 kHz and 16 kHz, for example.

The audio CODEC 172 may utilize a programmable infinite impulse response(IIR) filter and/or a programmable finite impulse response (FIR) filterfor at least a portion of the audio sources to compensate for passbandamplitude and phase fluctuation for different output devices. In thisregard, filter coefficients may be configured or programmed dynamicallybased on current operations. Moreover, the filter coefficients may beswitched in one-shot or may be switched sequentially, for example. TheCODEC 172 may also utilize a modulator, such as a Delta-Sigma (Δ-Σ)modulator, for example, to code digital output signals for analogprocessing.

The chip 162 may comprise an integrated circuit with multiple functionalblocks integrated within, such as the transceiver 152, the processor156, the baseband processor 154, the BT radio/processor 163, the CODEC172, and the distributed antenna 164. The number of functional blocksintegrated in the chip 162 is not limited to the number shown in FIG. 1.Accordingly, any number of blocks may be integrated on the chip 162depending on chip space and wireless device 150 requirements, forexample.

The distributed antenna 164 may comprise a plurality of ports forcoupling signals in and/or out of the distributed antenna 164, and maybe integrated in and/or on the chip 162. The physical dimensions of thedistributed antenna 164 may be configured to optimize a frequency ofoperation and/or characteristic impedance at the plurality of ports. Aplurality of low noise amplifiers (LNAs) in the transceiver 152 may becoupled to the plurality of ports to enable a wide range of gaincontrol. In instances where high gain may be desired, one or more highinput impedance LNAs designed for high gain operation may be coupled tohigh impedance ports on the distributed antenna 164 and enabled toamplify received RF signals before communicating them to the basebandprocessor 154 or the processor 156. In accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention, the number of high impedance LNAs that may be coupled tothe high impedance ports may be dependent on a desired value requiredfor a particular high gain operation. In some embodiments of theinvention, in order to provide a particular gain, a combination of oneor more high impedance LNAs and/or low impedance LNAs may be coupled tocorresponding high impedance ports and/or low impedance ports,respectively.

Similarly, for low gain operation, one or more lower impedance LNAsoptimized for lower gain operation may be coupled to low impedance portsof the distributed antenna 164. In accordance with an embodiment of theinvention, the number of lower impedance LNAs that may be coupled to thelow impedance ports may be dependent on a desired value required for aparticular low gain operation.

The external headset port 166 may comprise a physical connection for anexternal headset to be communicatively coupled to the wireless device150. The analog microphone 168 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,and/or code that may detect sound waves and convert them to electricalsignals via a piezoelectric effect, for example. The electrical signalsgenerated by the analog microphone 168 may comprise analog signals thatmay require analog to digital conversion before processing.

The stereo speakers 170 may comprise a pair of speakers that may beoperable to generate audio signals from electrical signals received fromthe CODEC 172. The HAC coil 174 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,and/or code that may enable communication between the wireless device150 and a T-coil in a hearing aid, for example. In this manner,electrical audio signals may be communicated to a user that utilizes ahearing aid, without the need for generating sound signals via aspeaker, such as the stereo speakers 170, and converting the generatedsound signals back to electrical signals in a hearing aid, andsubsequently back into amplified sound signals in the user's ear, forexample.

The dual digital microphone 176 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,and/or code that may be operable to detect sound waves and convert themto electrical signals. The electrical signals generated by the dualdigital microphone 176 may comprise digital signals, and thus may notrequire analog to digital conversion prior to digital processing in theCODEC 172. The dual digital microphone 176 may enable beamformingcapabilities, for example.

The vibration transducer 178 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,and/or code that may enable notification of an incoming call, alertsand/or message to the wireless device 150 without the use of sound. Thevibration transducer may generate vibrations that may be in synch with,for example, audio signals such as speech or music.

In operation, control and/or data information, which may comprise theprogrammable parameters, may be transferred from other portions of thewireless device 150, not shown in FIG. 1, to the processor 156.Similarly, the processor 156 may be enabled to transfer control and/ordata information, which may include the programmable parameters, toother portions of the wireless device 150, not shown in FIG. 1, whichmay be part of the wireless device 150.

The processor 156 may utilize the received control and/or datainformation, which may comprise the programmable parameters, todetermine an operating mode of the transceiver 152. For example, theprocessor 156 may be utilized to select a specific frequency for a localoscillator, a specific gain for a variable gain amplifier, configure thelocal oscillator and/or configure the variable gain amplifier foroperation in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.Moreover, the specific frequency selected and/or parameters needed tocalculate the specific frequency, and/or the specific gain value and/orthe parameters, which may be utilized to calculate the specific gain,may be stored in the system memory 158 via the processor 156, forexample. The information stored in system memory 158 may be transferredto the transceiver 152 from the system memory 158 via the processor 156.

The CODEC 172 in the wireless device 150 may communicate with theprocessor 156 in order to transfer audio data and control signals.Control registers for the CODEC 172 may reside within the processor 156.The processor 156 may exchange audio signals and control information viathe system memory 158. The CODEC 172 may up-convert and/or down-convertthe frequencies of multiple audio sources for processing at a desiredsampling rate.

The wireless signals may be transmitted by the distributed antenna 164which may comprise a plurality of input/output ports. The characteristicimpedance seen by a PA coupled to a particular port may be configured bythe physical dimensions and by which of the plurality of ports thedevice may be coupled to, for example.

In an embodiment of the invention, one or more LNAs may be staticallyand/or dynamically configured so that they are coupled to appropriateports on the distributed antenna 164 in order to provide a particulargain level for RF signals that are received by the distributed antenna164. For high gain operation, one or more high input impedance/high gainLNAs may be coupled to high impedance ports of the distributed antenna164, resulting in the desired amplification of lower power received RFsignals. Similarly, for low gain applications, one or more lower inputimpedance LNAs coupled to low impedance ports on the distributed antenna164 may be enabled for appropriate gain of higher power received RFsignals. The LNAs may be enabled by the processor 156 or the basebandprocessor 154, for example, and may comprise variable gain LNAs allowingfor further control of the gain of the received signals from thedistributed antenna 164, and enabling efficient RE signal reception inthe wireless device 150, thereby enhancing, for example, battery fifeand/or system performance.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary multi-portdistributed antenna on a chip, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the chip 162, adistributed antenna 201, IC circuitry 203, and antenna ports 205A-205H.The chip 162 may be as described with respect to FIG. 1. The ICcircuitry 203 may comprise devices integrated in the chip 162, such asthe transceiver 152, the processor 156, and the baseband processor 154,for example. The chip 162 comprising the multiport distributed antenna164 may be integrated with the wireless device 150.

The distributed antenna 201, which may be substantially similar to thedistributed antenna 164 described with respect to FIG. 1, may comprisean antenna integrated in and/or on the chip 162 that may comprise aplurality of ports, the antenna ports 205A-205H, such that receivercircuitry may be coupled to appropriate points along the distributedantenna 201. For example, LNAs may be coupled to ports that exhibitappropriate characteristic impedance. The distributed antenna 201 maycomprise a microstrip or coplanar waveguide, for example.

The antenna ports 205A-205H may comprise electrical contacts along thelength of the distributed antenna 201 that may enable coupling to theantenna at a plurality of points. In this manner, LNAs may be coupled tothe distributed antenna 201 where the characteristic impedance may bematched to the desirable impedance for the device to be coupled. Theantenna ports 205A-205H may comprise metal strips, for example, that maybe electrically coupled to the distributed antenna 201.

In operation, LNAs in the transceiver 152 with different inputimpedances and optimum gain levels may be coupled to the antenna ports205A-205H to enable a wide dynamic range of gain control of received RFsignals. For example, a higher input impedance LNA may be coupled to ahigh impedance antenna port, and a lower input impedance LNA may becoupled to a low impedance antenna port. In this manner, an appropriateLNA may be utilized for a desired gain level as defined by the LNA gaincharacteristics and associated input impedance. Thus, by integrating thedistributed antenna 201 on the chip 162 and enabling appropriate LNAs,the Rx gain linearity of the wireless device 150 may be configured foroptimum battery lifetime and RF signal reception performance. Byutilizing selectable LNAs with optimum linearity over a range of desiredgain levels through a plurality of antenna ports and LNAs, linearity ondemand may be enabled.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a plan view of an exemplarymulti-port distributed antenna on a chip, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3A, there is shown thechip 162, the distributed antenna 201, the antenna ports 205A-205H,baseband/RF circuitry 301, and low noise amplifiers (LNAs) 309A-309H.There is also shown a current versus distance plot 305 and a voltageversus distance plot 307.

The baseband/RF circuitry 301 may comprise suitable, circuitry, logicand/or code that may be operable to process baseband and RF signals.Baseband signals may be down-converted received RF signals, or may begenerated by input devices such as microphones, for example. Thebaseband/RF circuitry 301 may comprise the transceiver 152, the basebandprocessor 154, the processor 156, the CODEC 172, and the BTradio/processor 163, for example, described with respect to FIG. 1.Accordingly, the baseband/RF circuitry 301 may generate signals to betransmitted by the distributed antenna 201 via the PAs 309A-309H.

The LNAs 309A-309H may comprise suitable circuitry, logic, and/or codethat may be operable to amplify signals received from the distributedantenna 201 to be communicated to the baseband/RF circuitry 301. TheLNAs 309A-309H may comprise switches, such as CMOS transistors, forexample, that may enable coupling and decoupling of one or more LNAs toand from an antenna port, respectively.

The current versus distance plot 305 may represent the magnitude ofcurrent across the length of the distributed antenna 201. Similarly, thevoltage versus distance plot 307 may represent the magnitude of voltageacross the length of the distributed antenna 201, The current andvoltage at a given point on a distributed antenna may be dependant onthe frequency of signals to be transmitted and/or received, theconductivity of the metal and the dielectric constant between theantenna and a ground plane, and by the physical dimensions of theantenna.

The number of antenna ports 205A-205H is not limited to the number shownin FIGS. 2 and 3A. Accordingly, any number of ports and LNAs may beutilized depending on the desired dynamic range of the receiver gain andthe amount of gain available from each LNA 309A-309H, for example.

In operation, RF signals may be received by the distributed antenna 201for communication to the baseband/RF circuitry 301. The baseband/RFcircuitry 301 may receive the signal over a plurality of paths from thedistributed antenna 201 via the LNAs 309A-309H. The characteristicimpedance at each port may be a function of the position along thelength of the distributed antenna 201, as indicated by the exemplarycurrent versus distance plot 305 and the voltage versus distance plot307.

in an embodiment of the invention, the number and/or location of theLNAs 309A-309H enabled along the distributed antenna 201 may enableconfiguration of a wide dynamic range for the gain applied to signalsreceived by the distributed antenna 201, where the linearity of the LNAs309A-309H may be optimized for a particular gain range, resulting inlinearity on demand. Higher gain LNAs with higher input impedances maybe coupled to high impedance ports such as the antenna ports 205A, 205B,205G, and 205H, where the voltage divided by the current is high, asindicated by the voltage versus distance plot 307 and the current versusdistance plot 305. Similarly, lower gain LNAs with lower inputimpedances may be coupled to low impedance ports such as the antennaports 205C-205F, where the voltage divided by the current is low. Thisis shown further with respect to FIGS. 3B and 3C,

FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating a plan view of an exemplarymulti-port distributed antenna receiver in low gain mode, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3B, there isshown the chip 162, the distributed antenna 201, the antenna ports205A-205H, baseband/RF circuitry 301, LNAs 3090-309F, the current versusdistance plot 305, and the voltage versus distance plot 307 of FIG. 3A.

In an exemplary low gain operation, the LNAs 309C-309F, which may beoptimized for low power operation and may comprise low input impedance,may be enabled by the baseband/RF circuitry 301. High power RF signalsrequiring lower gain may be received by the distributed antenna 201 andmay be amplified by the LNAs 309C-309F before being communicated to thebaseband/RF circuitry 301. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention,the LNAs 309C-309F may comprise low input impedances that may correspondwith the lower impedance antenna ports 205C-205F, as indicated in thecurrent and voltage versus distance plots 305 and 307, thus resulting inefficient coupling of signals from the distributed antenna 201 to theLNAs 3090-309F, resulting in enhanced receiver performance and improvedbattery lifetime of the wireless device 150.

FIG. 3C is a block diagram illustrating a plan view of an exemplarymulti-port distributed antenna receiver in high gain mode, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3C, there isshown the chip 162, the distributed antenna 201, the antenna ports205A-205H, baseband/RF circuitry 301, the LNAs 309A, 309B, 309G, and309H, the current versus distance plot 305, and the voltage versusdistance plot 307 of FIG. 3A.

In an exemplary high gain operation, such as when a received RF signalcomprises a low magnitude, for example, the LNAs 309A, 309B, 309G, and309H, which may be optimized for high gain operation and may comprisehigh input impedance, may be enabled by the baseband/RF circuitry 301.RF signals may be received by the distributed antenna 201 and may beamplified by the LNAs 309A, 309B, 309G, and 309H before beingcommunicated to the baseband/RF circuitry 301. In an exemplaryembodiment of the invention, the LNAs 309A, 309B, 309G, and 309H maycomprise high input impedances that may correspond with the higheroutput impedance antenna ports 205A, 205B, 205G, and 205H, as indicatedin the current and voltage versus distance plots 305 and 307, thusresulting in efficient coupling of lower output powers, resulting inenhanced performance and improved battery lifetime of the wirelessdevice 150.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for power controlwith optimum power efficiency with a multipart distributed antenna, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, instep 403 after start step 401, LNAs 309A-309H optimized for the desiredgain level may be enabled by the baseband/RF circuitry 301. In step 405,RE signals may be received by the distributed antenna 201 andcommunicated to the LNAs 309A-309H via the appropriate antenna ports205A-205H. In step 407, the received signals may be amplified by theLNAs 309-309H before being communicated to the baseband/RF circuitry 301for processing, followed by end step 409.

In an embodiment of the invention, a method and system are disclosed forselectively enabling one or more low noise amplifiers 309A-309H coupledto a multi-port distributed antenna 201. The selective enabling may bebased on a desired gain level applied to a signal received from themulti-port distributed antenna 201. The low noise amplifiers 309A-309Hmay be coupled to one or more ports on the multi-port distributedantenna 201 based on an input impedanc impedance of the low noiseamplifiers 309A-309H. The multi-port distributed antenna 201 may beintegrated on a chip 162 with the one or more low noise amplifiers309A-309H, or may be located external to the chip 162. In accordancewith an embodiment of the invention, the multi-port distributed antenna201 may comprise a microstrip antenna. RF signals may be received viathe one or more selectively enabled low noise amplifiers 309A-309H andthe multi-port distributed antenna 201. The low noise amplifiers309A-309H may comprise variable gain and may be enabled utilizing aprocessor 154/156. Linearity on demand may be enabled via the selectiveenabling of the one or more low noise amplifiers 309A-309H.

Another embodiment of the invention may provide a machine and/orcomputer readable storage and/or medium, having stored thereon, amachine code and/or a computer program having at least one code sectionexecutable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machineand/or computer to perform the steps as described herein for receivingsignals via a multi-port distributed antenna.

Accordingly, aspects of the invention may be realized in hardware,software, firmware or a combination thereof. The invention may berealized in a centralized fashion in at least one computer system or ina distributed fashion where different elements are spread across severalinterconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or otherapparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein issuited. A typical combination of hardware, software and firmware may bea general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, whenbeing loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that itcarries out the methods described herein.

One embodiment of the present invention may be implemented as a boardlevel product, as a single chip, application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), or with varying levels integrated on a single chip with otherportions of the system as separate components. The degree of integrationof the system will primarily be determined by speed and costconsiderations. Because of the sophisticated nature of modernprocessors, it is possible to utilize a commercially availableprocessor, which may be implemented external to an ASIC implementationof the present system. Alternatively, if the processor is available asan ASIC core or logic block, then the commercially available processormay be implemented as part of an ASIC device with various functionsimplemented as firmware.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext may mean, for example, any expression, in any language, code ornotation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having aninformation processing capability to perform a particular functioneither directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversionto another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a differentmaterial form. However, other meanings of computer program within theunderstanding of those skilled in the art are also contemplated by thepresent invention.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiments disclosed, but that the present inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A wireless communications device comprising: adistributed antenna having a plurality of antenna ports; at least onevariable gain amplifier coupled to one of said plurality of antennaports and configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal receivedfrom said distributed antenna; a processor configured to vary a gain ofsaid at least one variable gain amplifier based on a desired gain levelto be applied to said RF signal.
 22. The wireless communications deviceof claim 21, wherein said at least one variable gain amplifier iscoupled to said one of said plurality of antenna ports based on an inputimpedance of said at least one variable gain amplifier.
 23. The wirelesscommunications device of claim 21, wherein said at least one variablegain amplifier is coupled to said one of said plurality of antenna portsbased on an impedance of said one of said plurality of antenna ports.24. The wireless communications device of claim 21, wherein said atleast one variable gain amplifier further comprises a switch to enabledecoupling of said at least one variable gain amplifier from said one ofsaid plurality of antenna ports.
 25. The wireless communications deviceof claim 24, wherein said switch comprises a CMOS transistor.
 26. Thewireless communications device of claim 21, wherein said distributedantenna and said at least one variable gain amplifier are integrated ona chip.
 27. The wireless communications device of claim 21, furthercomprising an RF circuit coupled to said at least one variable gainamplifier and configured to receive said RF signal amplified by said atleast one variable gain amplifier.
 28. The wireless communicationsdevice of claim 21, wherein said distributed antenna comprises amicrostrip antenna.
 29. The wireless communications device of claim 21,wherein said distributed antenna comprises a coplanar waveguide antenna.30. A method for wireless communication in a wireless device comprisingat least one variable gain amplifier coupled to one of a plurality ofantenna ports of a distributed antenna, said method comprising:utilizing a processor to vary a gain of said at least one variable gainamplifier, wherein said at least one variable gain amplifier isconfigured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal received from saiddistributed antenna; receiving said radio frequency (RF) signal fromsaid distributed antenna over one or more paths through said at leastone variable gain amplifier.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein said atleast one variable gain amplifier is enabled based on a desired gainlevel to be applied to said RF signal received from said distributedantenna.
 32. The method of claim 30, further comprising utilizing saidprocessor to decouple said at least one variable gain amplifier fromsaid distributed antenna.
 33. The method of claim 30, further comprisingutilizing a switch to decouple said at least one variable gain amplifierfrom said one of said plurality of antenna ports.
 34. The method ofclaim 33, wherein said switch comprises a CMOS transistor.
 35. Themethod of claim 30, wherein said distributed antenna comprises amicrostrip antenna.
 36. The method of claim 30, wherein said distributedantenna comprises a coplanar waveguide antenna.
 37. The method of claim30, wherein said at least one variable gain amplifier is coupled to saidone of said plurality of antenna ports based on an input impedance ofsaid at least one variable gain amplifier.
 38. The method of claim 30,wherein said at least one variable gain amplifier is coupled to said oneof said plurality of antenna ports based on an impedance of said one ofsaid plurality of antenna ports.